Meetings

NOV 19, '25

NOV 19, '25

TRC reviewed a State 40B eligibility filing for a proposed 95‑unit development at 27 Kimball Road (9-acre site) and agreed to request a 15‑day extension to the state comment period and to hold a public TRC meeting on 12/17/2025 to compile comments.

NOV 18, '25

Council adopted Ordinance 2025-112 updating the Solid Waste Code to add regulations on delivery and emptying of dumpsters (passed 6-1). The Council also referred multiple budget and administrative orders — including the AFSCME funding order (2025-114), a sewer budget transfer (2025-116), and the FY26 annual Classification Hearing order (2025-124) — to Budget & Finance, and referred several Kimball Road layout and deed items (2025-121, 2025-122, 2025-123) to planning-related committees.

NOV 18, '25

Trustees approved and marked three locations for an Eagle Scout project (concrete pads and benches), directed staff to complete and submit the Veterans’ Heritage Grant report to the state, and announced plans to pursue Purple Heart City designation targeting August 2026.

NOV 18, '25

Approved a new Section 12 All Alcohol license for 14 Merrimac Street LLC at 2 Merrimac St; raised one-day liquor license fees for for-profit applicants to $50 (non-profits remain $0); and declined to impose a local fee for ABCC Section 12D license conversions.

NOV 12, '25

Presentation and overview of the FY27–29 Library Strategic Plan by Paper Crane Associates; newly elected trustees Ann Langlois and Jane Becker were introduced.

NOV 10, '25

Approved: site plan for a temporary electrical substation at 0 and 14 Mill St (with nine conditions, including a floodplain statement). Other actions: ANR approval for 39 and 41 Oakland St; authorization for VHB peer review on the Rocky Hill Development; staff directed to obtain civil and traffic peer-review quotes for the 9 Oakland St redevelopment.

NOV 6, '25

Approved a preservation restriction for 45 Main St; received a staff update on a major redevelopment at 230 Main St that would preserve the Bagley House and add three new residential buildings; learned of a proposed 40B tiny-home development (~80 units) at 27 Kimball Rd with a scheduled site walk.

NOV 5, '25

Director reported that the new playground installation by Asheville Playgrounds is scheduled for completion by Thanksgiving; French drains will follow and stone dust surfacing is deferred until spring (the path will not be ADA-compliant until then). The director noted funding is contingent on an easement being filed with the City of Newburyport, targeted for early December.

NOV 5, '25

NOV 5, '25

Application for a 124‑unit redevelopment at 9 and 9R Oakland St. (historic preservation special permit and site plan review) was presented; a public hearing opens next week and Planning Board peer review is expected.

NOV 3, '25

Board approved the site plan for 9 Alenclair Drive (with landscaping bond clarified and ANSI gray finish required) and voted to hire VHB for traffic and stormwater peer review of the proposed 27.5–29 Clarks Road 146-unit development; the Board also heard presentations and public comment on projects at 45 Main Street (historic preservation/waivers) and 29 Lake Attitash Road (wetland/drainage concerns).

NOV 3, '25

Approved decommissioning permit for Substation 5 at 0 and 14 Mill Street (NOI 002-1355) with strict monitoring and restoration conditions; approved patio/shed repair at 62 Lake Attitash Road (NOI 002-1357); peer review requested for the Line 394 / B154-C155 transmission line ROW project (NOI 002-1356).

OCT 30, '25

Board reviewed and moved forward with a BlueLion HR engagement: compensation terms ($175/hr plus $175 travel), on-site staff interviews planned Nov 4, 5 and 7 (30-minute meetings per staff), and an estimated $6,000 for three 9-hour days.

OCT 28, '25

Council adopted 2025-110 (new Chapter 230: Buildings, Permitting of) including revised permitting fees, approved 2025-111 (City Clerk fee schedule) and 2025-113 (updates to parking/permit parking schedule and penalties), and approved several budget/ grant actions including 2025-104 to balance the FY26 budget and acceptance of Byrne (2025-108) and Municipal Road Safety (2025-109) grants.

OCT 28, '25

OCT 27, '25

Continued public hearings on the Rocky Hill Development (major mixed‑use proposal), National Grid substation upgrade at 9 Alenclair Dr., subdivision/duplex at 102 Kimball Rd., and a single‑family proposal at 6 Lake Attitash Way; the Board also approved signage for 23 Main St. (Main Street Marketplace) and 5 Market St. (Needham Bank).

OCT 23, '25

The Zoning Board approved a special permit for an addition at 17 Fourth St; approved setback variances for a new house at 6 Lake Attitash Way (contingent on Planning/Conservation approvals); approved a special permit to convert a basement to an in-law unit at 4 Brielle Way; and approved a variance to place a temporary mobile electrical substation at 0 and 14 Mill St (contingent on Planning/Conservation approvals).

OCT 23, '25

Amesbury Housing Authority presented detailed capital and accessibility needs across its properties — including major window replacement at Heritage Towers (~$1M), exterior envelope work at Macy Terrace (four buildings ~$700k; 12 more buildings remain), a proposed fenced playground at Macy (~$70k), ADA conversion opportunities, and ongoing renovations of 30 Pow Wow Villa units. The presentation outlined funding sources (rents, state formula and capital funds, bond/grant awards), long waiting lists for public housing, and limits on what state/federal funds will cover.

OCT 22, '25

Library Finance sub-committee discussed Council Order 2025-089 (a proposed $6M operating override) and confirmed the Board's signed letter was mailed to the Mayor; reviewed FY27 library budget scenarios including possible staffing or hours reductions if level-funded; and reviewed proceeds from sale of 5 School St and 9 School St and planned FY27 capital requests (including a ramp and updated gutter cost estimate $250k–$300k).